Good morning to you all. I hope it’s lovely, clear and sunny wherever you are and that your name has somehow found its way on to Santa’s Nice list.
I’ve just finished reading “The Last Days of Night” which I enjoyed. I’m not sure it quite deserves the 5* rating it currently has on Amazon, but it was a fun read. I picked it up largely because it sounded like the sort of book I would have enjoyed sharing with my father – a mixture of interesting history dressed up in fanciful fiction.
It’s about the struggle between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse in the late 19th century. The two had developed competing methods for producing electric light, and the book is largely about the legal battle between them over who first invented the electric light bulb. Whoever holds the patent and controls the provision of electric light will illuminate the world! Think of the sums of money to be made!
And, as you glance at the holiday decorations all around, think of how far we’ve come – light at the flick of a switch and our Christmas tree awash with tiny LEDs providing sparkle and delightful illumination.
We held our first proper dinner party earlier this week. Folks in the village have been so friendly and welcoming that it was about time we reciprocated in some way. So, Penelope pulled out all the usual stops and I hindered her as little as possible. As you would expect, the result was a stunning evening meal from start to finish to which I did make, I have to confess, one small contribution. She made delicious shrimp cakes with a sharp chili lime sauce followed by a deep, rich, tender beef casserole with mashed potatoes, carrots and beans. As one guest said, that was precisely what was required on a dark, gloomy winter’s evening. A couple of decent bottles of Bordeaux helped wash things down splendidly
We then had a short discussion and vote about when it’s best to serve the cheeseboard – between the main meal and dessert as in the French tradition or after dessert as in the English manner? Two couples in our audience have properties in France and the rest of us are Europhiles in one shape or form so it perhaps wasn’t too surprising that the vote was unanimous; to follow the French tradition and to serve the cheeseboard between dinner and dessert. I wonder if that practice will be banned in the future as the UK foolishly follows the path toward Brexit and oblivion. Let’s Take Back Control of our Cheeseboards or, if you prefer, Make Our Cheeseboards Great Again!
For dessert Pen made Mom’s famous pecan pie with my modest contribution, Greg’s Stunningly Sensational Liquorice Ice Cream – a great combination and a great dessert! It was fabulous and the whole evening was another one of Ms Playchute’s many memorable feasts. Folks were so stuffed that we didn’t even touch the Summer Fruit Cheesecake. Damn, that means we’ll have to eat it ourselves over the next few days!
If you haven’t seen it, this video clip from the Prime Minister’s visit to the summit of European heads of state this week has caused some amusement amongst the anti-Brexit camp. It’s a lovely metaphor for the UK’s current and future position in Europe – on the periphery and being ignored by the other European leaders. Billy No Friends.
Amongst the many photos we’ve had this week from Ava in China:
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Two questions: Isn’t technology wonderful and isn’t she gorgeous?
Our holiday solicitations have gone out (mainly) this week but don’t worry if yours hasn’t yet arrived. As we know from personal experience, they are very, very busy losing things at the Post Office. If you can’t wait you can get your hands on one here.
And finally, while I am certainly not looking forward to conditions in any way similar to those photographed below, the Guardian had a number of stunning photographs of winter scenes around the world.
Love to you all,
Greg